Diploma in Regulation and Ethics in Nuclear Decommissioning
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in regulation and ethics in nuclear decommissioning, structured in 8 modules covering the regulatory framework, licensing and oversight, radiological and environmental protection, ethics, public participation, safety culture and international experience, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Regulation and Ethics in Nuclear Decommissioning — studying from Australia
Australia does not operate nuclear power plants, but nuclear science and technology play important roles in research, medicine, mining and regulation. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation operates research reactors and produces radiopharmaceuticals, while uranium mining is conducted in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. Nuclear engineering skills support regulatory oversight, radiation safety and decommissioning activities. Employers include ANSTO, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, mining companies and specialist consultancies.
Fees for Australia: A$2,850 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
Does this programme meet Australian nuclear licensing or regulatory requirements?
No. SEIUM qualifications are private and are not accredited by any national body. Nuclear activities in Australia are regulated by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency and related authorities, which set their own competency requirements. Check directly with the regulator and your employer about any qualifications needed for a specific role.
Which Australian organisations might consider this training for nuclear-related roles?
Australian employers in this area include research organisations, radiation protection services, mining and resources companies, and consultancies working on nuclear-related projects. Hiring depends on each organisation's requirements and on security and licensing needs. A private qualification is unlikely to be sufficient alone, so combine it with relevant experience.
Is the programme workable alongside a job, and how is it funded?
The programmes are delivered entirely online in English with an assigned technical tutor, allowing study from Australia around work commitments. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Review the programme length, from 300 to 1,900 hours, and plan carefully.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the regulatory framework for decommissioning.
Understand the licensing and oversight process.
Apply radiological and environmental protection criteria.
Analyse the ethical foundations of decommissioning.
Design public participation processes.
Promote safety culture.
Compare international regulatory experience.
Who it's for
- Nuclear licensing specialists
- Regulatory compliance technicians
- Nuclear communications managers
- Radiation protection technicians
- Ethics and governance consultants
- Regulatory inspectors
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into nuclear decommissioning
What you'll work with
- IAEA GSR Part 6 (general safety requirements for decommissioning of facilities)
- Directive 2014/87/Euratom (EU framework for the nuclear safety of nuclear installations)
- Act 25/1964 on Nuclear Energy (Spanish nuclear energy law)
- Royal Decree 1836/1999 – RINR (Spanish regulation on nuclear and radioactive facilities)
- Aarhus Convention (access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters)
- Directive 2013/59/Euratom (EU basic safety standards for radiation protection)
- CSN Instruction IS-13 (Spanish Nuclear Safety Council instruction on radiological criteria for site release)
- Microsoft Excel
- IAEA NUCLEUS
- Microsoft Project
- Power BI
8 modules
1.1Requirements of IAEA GSR Part 61.2WENRA reference levels1.3The Nuclear Safety Directive1.4Spanish Nuclear Energy Act1.5Regulation on Nuclear Facilities1.6Role of the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN)1.7Decommissioning authorisation1.8Declaration of closure1.9Site release1.10Case study: the authorisation process in Spain
2.1Documentation for authorisation2.2Decommissioning safety study2.3Technical operating specifications2.4Radiation protection plan2.5Emergency plan2.6Inspection programme2.7Assessment of changes2.8Monitoring indicators2.9Periodic safety reviews2.10Practical exercise: structure of a safety study
3.1Principles of justification, optimisation and limitation3.2Occupational dose limits3.3The ALARA principle in decommissioning3.4Environmental radiological monitoring3.5Control of radioactive effluents3.6Clearance criteria3.7Site release criteria3.8Environmental impact assessment3.9Environmental remediation of the site3.10Workshop: applying release criteria
4.1Ethical foundations of nuclear management4.2The principle of intergenerational equity4.3Responsibility of the licensee4.4Fairness in the distribution of burdens4.5Ethics of risk communication4.6Informed consent of communities4.7Professional ethics of the engineer4.8Conflicts of interest4.9Cases of ethical dilemmas4.10Case study: an ethical dilemma in waste management
5.1The Aarhus Convention5.2Right of access to information5.3Participation in decision-making5.4Local information committees5.5Communication with the public5.6Managing risk perception5.7Local socio-economic impact5.8Territorial transition plans5.9Stakeholder dialogue5.10Practical exercise: communication plan for a decommissioning project
6.1Nuclear safety culture6.2Leadership and commitment6.3Human and organisational factors6.4Managing organisational change6.5Maintaining competences6.6Incident reporting6.7Learning from experience6.8Safety culture assessment6.9Relationship with contractors6.10Workshop: safety culture assessment
7.1Decommissioning in Germany7.2Decommissioning in the United States7.3Decommissioning in the United Kingdom7.4OECD/NEA programmes7.5IAEA reviews7.6Comparison of regulatory frameworks7.7Regulatory good practice7.8Ethical lessons learned7.9International regulatory trends7.10Case study: comparison between countries
8.1Selection of the case study8.2Analysis of the regulatory framework8.3Identification of ethical aspects8.4Stakeholder analysis8.5Proposed improvements8.6Participation plan8.7Conclusions of the analysis8.8Final recommendations of the study8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The programme is delivered 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits alongside your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. You work with Microsoft Excel, IAEA NUCLEUS, Microsoft Project and Power BI in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real authorisation dossier reviews, safety culture assessments and analyses of ethical cases. Assessment is continuous by module, plus a final capstone project.
Standards covered: IAEA GSR Part 6, Council Directive 2014/87/Euratom on nuclear safety, Spanish Nuclear Energy Act 25/1964, Royal Decree 1836/1999 (RINR), Aarhus Convention, Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom, CSN Instruction IS-13.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Microsoft Excel, IAEA NUCLEUS, Microsoft Project and Power BI, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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